Automobile antenna



k "Ir Dec. 20, 1960 J. P. CHADOWSKI AUTOMOBILE ANTENNA Filed Nov. 10, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet l 2? 25 2 ISI INVENTOR.

JOSEPH P. CHADOWSKI ATTORNEYS Dec. 20, 1960 J. P. cHAnowskl 2,965,340

AUTOMOBILE ANTENNA Filed Nov. 10. 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

JOSEPH P. CHADOWSKI ATTORNEYS Dec. 20, 1960 J. P. CHADOWSKI 2,965,340

AUTOMOBILE ANTENNA Filed Nov, 10, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

JOSEPH P. CHADOWSKI ATTO R NE YS United States Patent AUTOMOBILE ANTENNA Joseph P. Chadowski, North Olmstead, Ohio, assignor to New-Tronics Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Nov. 10, 1959, Ser. No. 852,012

19 Claims. (Cl. 248-43) This invention relates generally to automobile antennas but has reference more particularly to an antenna of the top mount type, which also has anti-theft features.

It has heretofore been proposed, as in Patent No. 2,896,010, to provide an antenna of this type, provided with a clamping device having expansible means in the form of fingers. Such an antenna is provided with a housing on which the antenna proper is mounted and is angularly adjustable, and is further provided with an operating member, in the form of a screw which activates the aforesaid clamping means, but access to this operating member can be had only after removal or adjustment of the antenna proper.

Moreover, the expansible clamping fingers in the aforesaid patent are of equal length, so that the antenna is not adapted to fit automobile bodies of different contours or shapes.

Furthermore, the expansible clamping fingers in the aforesaid patent are not supported in a manner which will insure elfective operation and use of fingers, and prevent distortion or bending of fingers during installation of the antenna.

The present invention has as its primary object the provision of an antenna of the type or character described, which may be installed on an automobile in virtually a single operation, withoutrequiring removal or adjustment of the antenna proper.

Another object of the invention is to provide an antenna of the character described, which is adapted for mounting on automobile bodies of different contours or shapes.

A further object of the invention is to provide an antenna of the .character. described in which clamping fingers or latches areprovided, which are supported in such a manner as to insure effective or efficient operation and use of such fingers, and which are so constructed and supported as to resist distortion or bending during installation of the antenna.

, Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same.

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view, partly in elevation, and partly in section, illustrating the manner in which the antenna is installed on the cowl, fender or other body partof an automobile;

Fig. 2 is a vyiewsirnilar toFig. l, but showing the antenna, after installation; 7

Fig. 3 is a view of the installed antenna, as viewed in the direction indicated by the line 33 of Fig. 2;

1 Fig. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view, taken on the line 4-4 ofFig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional .view, taken on the line 5-5 of 2;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view, taken on the line 66 'of Fig. 4;

2,965,346 Patented Dec. 20, 1960 ice Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view, in an inverted position, of a portion of the antenna base or housing;

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the antenna sleeve;

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view, taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a side elevational view of the sleeve of Figs. 8 and 9;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of one of the latches or clamping fingers of the antenna, and

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing a modification for use when mounting or installing the antenna on an inclined or curved portion of the automobile.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 to 11 inclusive of the drawings, reference numeral 1 designates the body part of an automobile, this part being a fender, cowl or other part on which an antenna is normally mounted. The part 1 is provided with an opening or hole 2, through which portions of the antenna are inserted during installation of the antenna.

The antenna, in this case, is of the telescoping mast type, comprising a stationary or fixed lower section 3, and

telescoping sections 4 and 5. The section 3 of the antenna is press-fitted or otherwise rigidly secured to a nut 6, which is adapted to rest on the base or housing of the antenna.

The base, or housing of the antenna is shown, in this case, as consisting of two metallic elements 7 and 8, and a non-metallic element 9, preferably made of an electrically insulating plastic material, which is interposed between the elements 7 and 8. These elements are interlocked with each other in the manner shown in Fig. 4, the elements 7 and 9 being in the form of segments of a sphere, as is the upper portion of element 8, so that the outer surfaces of these elements coact to form a surface which is substantially of hemispherical shape.

The element 8 is provided with an outwardly extending annular flange 10, which is interlocked with a gasket or pad 11, of rubber or the like, and which rests on the body part 1, the pad 11 having a central opening 12, which is in registration with the opening 2 of the body part 1.

The housing element 8 is provided centrally thereof with 21 depending cylindrical portion 13, which is provided in its lower end with a diametrically or transversely extending slot 14, as best seen in Figs. 6 and 7, this slot extending upwardly to the point 15. immediately above the slot 14, and above the ends of the slot, portions of the walls of the cylinder 13 are removed to provide inclined surfaces 16 and 17, of arcuate cross-sections (see Figs. 1, 2, 5 and 7), which serve a purpose to be presently described.

Disposed within the slot or slotted end 14 of the cylinder 13 is a combined sleeve and bracket member, the construction of which is shown most clearly in Figs. 8, 9 and 10. This member comprises a sleeve 18 having a lower end 19 of slightly reduced diameter, and provided at its upper end with an inwardly extending annular flange 20, forming an opening 21. It is also provided with brackets 22 extending from diametrically opposite sides thereof, these brackets being of arcuate form and characterized by horizontal ledges 23 and central openings 24 extending downwardly from these ledges. Above the ledges 23, the brackets are provided with conical outer walls 25, and below these ledges, the openings 24 are provided with outer walls 26, which are inclined oppositely to the walls 25.

The brackets 22 function as supports for latches or clamping fingers, generally designated by reference numeral 27, and each of which, as best shown in Figs. 5 and 11, consists of an upper portion 28 of arcuate crosssection, corresponding in curvature to the curvature of the walls 25 of the brackets 22 and a lower portion 29, of reduced width, which extends at an angle to the portion 28 of the finger and terminates in an outwardly extending flange 30. The juncture of the portions 28 and 29 of the finger provides shoulders 31, which are adapted to rest on the ledges 23 of the brackets. The portions 29 extend through the openings 24 of the brackets, and for the purpose of holding the fingers 27 in assembled relation with the brackets, a split ring 32 is provided, which encircles the portions 29 and is retained in place by the flanges 30.

Disposed within the upper end of the sleeve 18 against the flange 20, is a unit comprising an interiorly threaded bushing 33 and an insulating collar 34, the collar 34 being interposed between the bushing and the sleeve. This unit, as shown in Fig. 4, is retained and locked in position by means of stakes or indentations 35.

The antenna lead in, which is designated by reference numeral 36 has a terminal 37 which is adapted to be frictionally inserted in the lower end of the sleeve 18.

For the purpose of actuating or moving the sleeve 18 vertically in the cylinder 13, an actuating element 37a is provided, which consists of an upper portion 38, which is press-fitted in the lower end of the antenna mast section 3, and a lower threaded portion 39, of reduced diameter, which is threadedly secured to the bushing 33. Below the portion 39, the actuating element 37a is provided with a terminal 40 which is adapted to make contact frictionally with the terminal 37 of the lead-in 36. The nut 6 is also staked to the portion 38 of the actuating element 37a, as indicated at 6a in Fig. 4.

Before the antenna is installed, the nut 6 is first rotated in a direction to cause the portion 39 of the actuating element 37a to move the sleeve 18 to a position in relation to the cylinder 13 approximately as shown in Fig. 1. This will insure that when the antenna is installed in the manner shown in Fig. l, and the pad 11 is brought down onto the body part 1, the upper ends of the fingers 27 will be disposed somewhat below the lower surface of the part 2.

The antenna is then passed through the opening 2 in the manner shown in Fig. 1, the lead-in 36, sleeve 18 and its brackets 22 being passed through the opening before introduction of the fingers 27 through the opening. As the fingers 27 pass through the opening, the fingers will be brought together by the edges of the opening 2 and will pass through the opening, this movement of the fingers being permitted by reason of the resiliency of the split ring 32. During this movement, the fingers 27 will rock about the fulcrum provided by the ledges 23 of the bracket, and can, if necessary, move into contact with the inclined surfaces 16, and 17 of the cylinder 13, which thus act as stops to limit such inward movement of the fingers. 7

After the fingers 27 have been passed through the opening 2, the fingers will again move outwardly, due to the action of the split ring 32, and thereafter, the nut 6 is rotated in the opposite direction, to cause the portion 39 of the actuating element 37a to draw the sleeve 18 upwardly to the position shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, thereby firmly locking the antenna to the body part 1 of the automobile.

It may be noted, at this point, that the fingers 27 are provided at their upper ends with spaced pointed prongs 41, so that when the sleeve 18 is drawn upwardly, the points of these prongs will bite into the metallic undersurface of the body part 1, thereby insuring good electrical contact, as well as effectively locking the fingers against displacement.

It may also be noted that the ledges 23 of the brackets 22 act as fulcrums for the fingers 27, so that these brackets take up a large part of the stresses exerted upon the fingers during installation of the antenna. A large part of the stresses upon these fingers is also taken up by the walls 25 of the bracket due to the fact that the curved portions 28 of the fingers bear directly against these walls over a relatively large area. As a result, any tendency of the fingers to become bent or distorted during installation of the antenna is reduced to a minimum. As also shown in Fig. 4, any tendency of the fingers 27 to move outwardly beyond the position shown is also resisted by the abutment of the portions 29 of the fingers 27 with the wall of the sleeve 18.

An important feature of the invention resides in the fact that the actuating member 37a which functions also as the electrical connection between the antenna mast and the lead-in 36, is rigidly connected directly to the mast section 3, so that installation or removal of the antenna may be performed in a single operation, which involves virtually nothing more than rotation of the nut 6.

In case of an attempt to steal the antenna, only the mast and base parts 7, 8 and 9 could be removed, so that the entire antenna would not have to be replaced.

In Fig. 12, a modification is illustrated, for use in mounting or installing the antenna on an inclined or curved surface 1 of an automobile.

In this case, the base or housing element 8' is made or molded to conform to the contour of the surface 1, and the latches or fingers 27 are made of different lengths, so that when the antenna is installed, the latches or fingers will clamp the antenna to the surface 1'; with the antenna mast and other parts in an upright position, as shown. or identical in construction with that shown in Figs. 1' to 11 inclusive.

It is to be understood that the forms of my invention, herewith shown and described, are to be taken as preferred examples of the same, and that various changes may be made in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts thereof, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In an antenna of the character described, means for clamping said antenna to an automobile, said means comprising a cylindrical-shaped member having brackets extending radially therefrom, each of said brackets having a conical supporting surface and a supporting ledge, said conical surface extending from the upper edge of the bracket to the supporting ledge, and an opening extending downwardly from said ledge, and clamping fingers supported by said ledges, each of said clamping fingers having a portion of arcuate cross-section adapted to bear against the conical surface of its bracket.

2. An antenna, as defined in claim 1, in which each of said fingers is provided at its upper end with pointed prongs.

3. An antenna, as defined in claim 2, in which each of said fingers is provided with an extension extending through said opening, said extension being straight for a substantial portion of its length and being of arcuate transverse cross-section for embracing said cylindricalshaped member.

4. An antenna, as defined in claim 3, in which said cylindrical member is provided at its upper end with an inwardly-extending flange, and a unit is provided comprising an insulated sleeve and a metallic interiorly threaded bushing within the sleeve, said unit bearing aga nst said flange, and means for retaining said unit in position. said means comprising indentations pressed inwardly from the cylindrical member.

5. In an antenna of the character described, a masttype antenna, a housing for supporting said antenna, said housing including an extension for extending through the body of an automobile, said extension having circumferentially-spaced conical external walls, and means for clamping said housing to said body, said means comprising clamping fingers having inner surfaces of arcuate cross-section adapted to embrace said conical walls.

6. In combination with a mast-type antenna, means for securing said antenna to an automobile, said means comprising a housing for supporting the antenna, circum- In all other respects, the antenna is similar ferentially-spaced clamping fingers below said housing for securing said housing to said automobile, each of said clamping fingers being movable independently of the other, a support for said fingers disposed below said housing and on which said fingers are fulcrumed, and an actuating member for moving said support relatively to said housing, said actuating member comprising an element extending axially from the lower end of the antenna and rigidly secured to the antenna so as to be rotatable when the antenna is rotated, said element having threaded connection with said support for moving said support relatively to said housing.

7. The combination, as defined in claim 6, in which said mast-tvpe antenna includes a lower tubular stationarv section. and said actuating member is rigidly secured in the lower end of said section.

8. In combination with a mast-tvpe antenna, means for securing said antenna to an automobile. said means comprising a housing for supporting the antenna, said housing having a tubular portion extending therefrom and adapted to extend throu h the automobile body, clamping fingers adiacent said tubular portion for securing said housing to said automobile, a support for said fingers disposed below said housing. and an actuating member for moving said support relatively to said housing. sa d support having a portion slidable in said tubular portion of the housing when the support is moved.

9. The combination, as defined in claim 8, in which said tub lar portion is provided in its lower end with a diametrically-extend n slot in which portions of said fin er support are movable.

10. Tn combination with a mast-tvpe antenna, means for securing said antenna to an automobile. said means compris g a housin for supporting the antenna. circumferentiallv-snaced clamping fin ers. each movable independentlv of the other. disposed below said housing for securing said housing to said automobile, a support for said fin ers disposed below said housing and on which said fingers are fulcrumed, and an actuating member within sa d support for moving said support relatively to said housing. said actuatin member being rigidly secured to said antenna and rotatable with said antenna.

ll. The combination, as defined in claim 10. in which said mast-t pe antenna includes a lower tubular section, and said actuatin member is rigidly secured in the lower end of said section.

12. In combination with a mast-type antenna, including a lower tubular section, means for securing said antenna to an automobile, said means comprising a housing for supporting the antenna, a nut resting on said housing and in which the lower end of said mast section is press-fitted, clamping fingers below said housing for securing said housing to said automobile, a support for said fingers disposed below said housing, and an actuating member within said support rigidly secured in the lower end of said tubular section for moving said support 6 relatively to said housing, said actuating member being rotatable with said antenna.

13. The combination, as defined in claim 12, in which said housing is provided with a tubular portion for extending through the automobile body, and in which said finger support is slidable.

14. The combination, as defined in claim 13, in which said tubular portion is provided in its lower end with a diametrically-extending slot, and said finger support ineludes bracket-like extensions which are movable in said slot.

15. In an antenna of the character described, a mastlike antenna, and means adapted to secure said antenna to an automobile body, said means comprising a housing for supporting the antenna, circumferentially-spaced clamping fingers below said housing for securing said housing to said body, said fingers being movable independently of each other and being of unequal length so as to adapt the antenna to be supported on an inclined portion of said body, a support for said fingers, and an actuating member movable by the antenna for moving said support vertically relatively to said housing.

16. An antenna, as defined in claim 15, in which said actuating member is rigidly secured to said antenna and is rotatable with said antenna.

17. In combination with a mast-type antenna including a lower tubular stationary section, means for securing said antenna to an automobile, said means comprising a housing for supporting the antenna, a nut resting on said housing and in which the lower end of said mastsection is press-fitted, clamping fingers below said housing for securing said housing to said automobile, a support for said fingers disposed below said housing, and an actuating member rigidly secured in the lower end of said section, said actuating member comprising an element extending axially from the lower end of said section and rotatable when said section is rotated, said element having threaded connection with said support for moving said support relatively to said housing.

18. The combination, as defined in claim 17, in which said housing is provided with a tubular portion for extending through the automobile body, and in which said finger support is slidable.

19. The combination, as defined in claim 18, in which said tubular portion is provided in its lower end with a diametrically-extending slot, and said finger support includes bracket-like extensions which are movable in said slot.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,252,671 Ludwig Aug. 12, 1941 2,454,897 Trowbridge Nov. 30, 1948 2,470,693 Finke et al May 17, 1949 2,694,539 Finneburgh et al. Nov. 16, 1954 2,896,010 Newman July 21, 1959 

